A Rare Percussion Riviere Patent Sporting Rifle.
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48” overall, 32”octagonal 17 bore octagonal barrel, polygonal at the muzzle and rifled with ten spiral grooves, the breech signed along the top flat ‘Riviere Rifle Gun Maker London’ with three folding leaf back-sight, with London Proofs on under side, octagonal breech with two platinum lines and pierced engraved platinum plug, border engraved enclosed action decorated with an animal mask amid foliage, and with a lion-mask on the left side, the tang engraved 'Riviere Patent 165', dolphin hammer. Walnut figured half stock with chequered pistol grip and fore-end, the former with earlier silver lion mask pommel, the latter with border engraved steel cap decorated around the ramrod aperture, butt stamped '3207' along the bottom. Border engraved steel mounts comprising partly chequered butt plate decorated with two diamond shape marks each with starburst, triangular aperture for a peep sight, D-shaped trigger guard decorated with symmetrical foliage, trigger plate with engraved finial, adjustable set trigger, sling loops, tubular ramrod pipe, and brass mounted ramrod
Circa 1825.
In good condition, rebrowned barrel, engraving a little rubbed, bore near mint, ramrod a later replacement.
Isaac Riviere was granted English Patent No. 5175 (for concealed percussion locks) in 1825. His lock was rejected by the Ordnance in 1834. He joined the H.A.C. in 1821, became a Captain in the Jäger Corps in which he served between 1833 and 1848, he died in 1851